Glossary of Hebrew Terms Shul

Glossary of Hebrew Terms Shul. Synagogue (Yiddish). Judaism has its own vocabulary, including terms for customs and ceremonies, holidays, rituals, and life- Siddur. Prayerbook. cycle events. Many terms and phrases are in Hebrew Sidrah. The weekly portion of the Torah that is read or Yiddish. The more terms that you can identify, the aloud at services. more comfortable and confident you will feel. Tallit. Prayer shawl worn during morning prayer This is a beginner's list of frequently used words and services and on Kol Nidrei eve. phrases. Use it as a reference. With time and experience most of them will become a basic part of Holiday Terms your own vocabulary of life. Shabbat Synagogue Terms Besamim. Spices used during the Havdalah service. Aliyah. The honor of being called to recite the Torah blessings during a synagogue Torah reading. Ḥallah. Braided bread used on Sabbaths and festivals. Aron HaKodesh. "Holy ark." The receptacle in which the Torah scrolls are kept. Erev Shabbat. The eve of the Sabbath (Friday evening). Beit Knesset. "House of assembly." The synagogue. Hamotzi. Blessing said over bread. Bimah. Platform-pulpit area in a synagogue. Havdalah. "Separation." Service on Saturday night Haftarah. "Conclusion." The prophetic section bidding farewell to the Sabbath. recited after the reading of the Torah on Sabbaths, festivals, and other occasions. Kabbalat Shabbat. "Welcoming the Sabbath." Service just before the evening service on Friday Ḥazzan. Cantor. night.

Kippah. Skullcap. Kiddush. "Sanctification." Blessing over wine.

Maḥzor. (1) Prayerbook used on Rosh HaShanah and Motza-ey Shabbat. The "departure" of the Sabbath. Yom Kippur. (2) Special prayerbook for one of the three Pilgrimage Festivals. Seudah Shelisheet. "Third meal" eaten during late Sabbath afternoon. Minyan. Quorum of ten adults needed for a public prayer service. Shabbat Shalom. "Sabbath Peace." A Sabbath greeting. Ner Tamid. "Eternal light." Light above the ark which is always kept burning. Shaḥarit. The morning service.

Oneg Shabbat. "Shabbat joy." Celebration after Shomer Shabbat. A Sabbath observer. Friday evening services which often includes Zemirot. Sabbath (or festival) songs sung at the refreshments, singing, Israeli dancing, and table. discussions. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur Sefer Torah. The Torah scroll, consisting of the Five Books of Moses: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Al Ḥeit. Opening words, and hence the title, of Yom Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Kippur confessional prayer. Aseret Y'may Teshuvah. The Ten Days of Repentance Four Species (Arba Minim). Collective term for etrog, from Rosh HaShanah to Yom Kippur. Also known as lulav, aravot (willows), and hadassim (myrtle) used the Days of Awe. on Sukkot.

Baal Toke'ah. Person who sounds the shofar. Hadassim. Myrtle leaves attached to lulav.

Gemar ḥatimah tovah. "May your final verdict be a Ḥag Sameiaḥ. "Happy holiday." Festival greeting. favorable one." Greeting for the days after Rosh HaShanah. Hakafot. Processions around sanctuary with Torah scroll on Sukkot and Simḥat Torah. High Holy Days. Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur, and the days in between. Ḥatan Beresheet. "Bridegroom of Genesis." Special honor on Simhat Torah of being called up for first Kol Nidrei. Liturgical text which ushers in Yom sidrah in annual cycle of Torah readings. Kippur. Ḥatan Torah. "Bridegroom of Torah." Special honor Leshanah tovah tikateivu. "May you be inscribed for on Simbat Torah of being called up for last sidrah in a good year." Greeting for Rosh HaShanah. annual cycle of Torah readings.

Mahzor. Festival prayerbook. Ḥol Hamoed. Intermediate days of a festival; work is permitted. Neilah. Closing service of Yom Kippur. Lulav. Palm branch, one of the Four Species. Seliḥot. (1) Prayers of forgiveness recited during High Holy Days. (2) Penitential prayer service beginning at S'khakh. Greens covering the roof of the sukkah. midnight on Saturday preceding Rosh HaShanah. If Rosh HaShanah falls on Tuesday or earlier in week, Sukkah. Small booth used on Sukkot. the recitation of Selichot begins on Sunday morning Yizkor. Memorial prayer for the dead recited on or of preceding week. near last day of every major festival.

Shofar. Ram's horn. Ḥanukkah

Shevarim. Three blasts of the shofar. Al HaNissim. Special prayer of deliverance.

Tekiah. One blast of the shofar. Antiochus. Syrian king who forbade Jews to practice Tekiah Gedolah. One very long shofar blast. their religion.

Teruah. Nine short blasts of the shofar. Dreidel (sevivon in Hebrew). Four-sided top used in Hanukkah games. Teshuvah. Repentance. Hallel. Psalms praising God recited on Hanukkah, Yamim Noraim. The Days of Awe. The ten days of Rosh Ḥodesh, and Pilgrimage Festivals. repentance from Rosh HaShanah to Yom Kippur. Also known as Aseret Y'may Teshuvah. Ḥanukkah. Festival of Dedication, occurring on twenty-fifth of Kislev and lasting for eight days. Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, Simhat Torah Ḥanukkah gelt. Money given to children as Aravot. Long narrow willow leaves attached to lulav. Hanukkah gift.

Etrog. Citron, one of Four Species used during Ḥanukkiah. Ḥanukkah candelabrum. Sukkot. Kislev. Hebrew month in which Ḥanukkah begins. Latkes. Potato pancakes, traditionally eaten on Shushan Purim. The day after Purim (the fifteenth of Hanukkah. Adar), ordained by the Jews in Persia's capital and in walled cities. Maoz Tzur. "Rock of Ages." Popular hymn sung on Ḥanukkah. Ta'anit Esther. Fast of Esther, observed just before Purim from dawn to dusk, in commemoration of the Nun, Gimel, Hay, and Shin. Hebrew letters on the fast Esther imposed on herself. dreidel. They stand for the Hebrew words nes gadol hayah sham, meaning "a great miracle happened Vashti. King Ahasuerus' rebellious queen. there." Passover Shamash. Special "servant" candle used to light the other candles in the ḥanukkiah. Afikoman. Piece of matzah hidden at beginning of Seder, to be found by the children. Tevet. Hebrew month in which Ḥanukkah ends. Bedikat Ḥametz. Search for unleavened bread on Purim night before Passover.

Adar. Hebrew month during which Purim occurs. Beitzah. Roasted egg on Seder plate, a symbol of life.

Ahasuerus. King of Persia involved in Purim story. Biur Ḥametz. Burning of hametz on morning before Passover. Esther. Wife of Ahasuerus and heroine of Purim story. The Scroll of Esther is read during the Purim Four Questions. Questions asked by youngest child service. during early part of Seder.

Feast of Lots. Another name for Purim. Ḥad Gadya. "One kid." A favorite Seder song.

Gragger (ra'a,shan in Hebrew). Noisemaker used Haggadah. Book used at Seder service. during the Megillah reading to drown out Haman's name. Ḥametz. Foods containing leavened grains; forbidden on Passover. Hadassah. Esther's Hebrew name. Haroset. Mixture of apples, cinnamon, nuts, and Haman. Prime minister of Ahasuerus. He tried to wine served on Passover, symbolizing mortar used to persuade king to permit pogrom against Persian make bricks in Egypt. Jews; instead, he was hung. Karpas. Greens (usually parsley) on Seder plate, Hamantashen. Triangular pockets of dough filled symbolizing spring. Some people use potatoes for with poppy seeds or jam served on Purim. karpas.

Matanot l'evyonim. Gifts to the poor on Purim. Mah Nishtanah. Opening words of Four Questions.

Mordecai. Cousin of Esther and hero of Purim story. Ma-ot Ḥittim. Special matzah fund used to help needy before Passover. Pur. Lot cast to determine one's fate. Name of holiday comes from the plural form, purim. Maror. Bitter herbs, usually horseradish, served at Passover Seder. Seudah. Special feast associated with a holiday or Jewish life-cycle event. Matzah. Unleavened bread eaten during Passover.

Shushan. City where story of Purim took place. Moadim Lesimḥah. "Joyous festival." Festival greeting. Nisan. Month when Exodus from Egypt took place. Ḥaroset. Mixture of apples, cinnamon, nuts, and Passover begins on fourteen of Nisan. wine served on Passover, symbolizing mortar used to make bricks in Egypt. Seder. Festive meal and ceremony held on first two nights of Passover (first night only in Israel and for Hamantashen. Triangular pockets of dough filled Reform Jews). with poppy seeds or jam served on Purim.

Zeroa. Roasted lamb shankbone symbolizing Karpas. Greens (usually parsley) on Seder plate, Passover sacrifice in ancient Temple. symbolizing spring. Some people use potatoes for karpas. Shavuot Kneidel. Matzah-meal dumpling, often added to Akdamut. Special liturgical poem read during chicken broth. Sometimes called matzah ball. Shavuot services. Kosher. Refers to foods that are fit to be eaten Bikkurim. First fruits brought to Temple as Shavuot according to Jewish dietary laws. offering. Kreplach. Triangular dumplings often filled with Blintz. Thin crepe-like pancake filled with cottage meat and served with soup. cheese or fruit. Often served on Shavuot. Kugel. Noodle or potato pudding. Feast of Weeks. Another name for Shavuot. Latke (levivah in Hebrew). Potato pancake, Sivan. Hebrew month in which Shavuot occurs. traditionally eaten on Hanukkah.

Tikkun Leil Shavuot. Study session on night of Maror. Bitter herbs, usually horseradish, served at Shavuot. Passover Seder.

Jewish Food Terms Matzah. Unleavened bread eaten during Passover.

Beitzah. Roasted egg on Seder plate, a symbol of life. Milchig (Yiddish). Foods prepared with milk or other dairy products; in accordance with dietary laws, they Blintz. Thin crepe-like pancake filled with cottage may not be eaten with, or immediately after, meat cheese or fruit. Often served on Shavuot. (fleishig) foods. Borsht. Beet soup often served with sour cream or Pareve (Yiddish). Foods that are neither fleishig nor boiled potato. milchig but neutral according to dietary laws; e.g., Ḥallah. Braided bread used on Sabbaths and fruits and vegetables. festivals. Zeroa. Roasted lamb shankbone symbolizing Fleishig (Yiddish). Foods prepared with meat or meat Passover sacrifice in ancient Temple. products; in accordance with the dietary laws, they may not be eaten with dairy (milchig) foods. Life-cycle Terms

Gefilte fish. Stuffed fish, often served as first course Birth And Education of Sabbath or holiday meal. Bar Mitzvah (masc.), Bat Mitzvah (fem). One who is Ḥametz. Foods containing leavened grains; responsible for observing the mitzvot (religious forbidden on Passover. commandments). For boys this occurs at age thirteen, for girls at age twelve. Some egalitarian synagogues observe age 13 for both genders. BritMilah. Circumcision ceremony occurring on Kiddushin. Wedding. eighth day after birth of Jewish boy. Mikvah. Ritual bath. Confirmation. Ceremony often tied to Shavuot in which teenagers confirm their acceptance of Nesuin. Marriage. Judaism. Shadkhan. Jewish match-maker.

Kohen. Descendant of the ancient priestly tribe. Sheva Berakhot. Seven wedding blessings. Conducts Pidyon HaBen ceremony for firstborn and receives honor of first aliyah at services. Tenaim. Stipulations concerning proposed marriage.

Kvater (masc.), Kvaterin (fern.). Godfather and Yihud. "Unchaperoned togetherness"; time when godmother, appointed at time of circumcision. bride and groom are together and alone immediately following wedding ceremony. Mohel (masc.), Mohelet (fem.). Person who performs surgery during ritual circumcision. Death And Mourning

Pidyon HaBen. Ceremony for redemption of Alav Hashalom. Hebrew for "May he rest in peace." firstborn. Aleha Hashalom. Hebrew for "May she rest in Sandek. Person who holds child at ritual peace." circumcision. Eil Malei. Prayer for peace of departed soul. Simḥat Bat. Naming ceremony of newborn Jewish Ḥevra Kaddisha. "Holy Society," group responsible girl. for preparing body for burial. Shalom Zakhar/Shalom Nekeivah. Ceremony Keriah. Tearing of garment as sign of mourning. welcoming newborn Jewish child (boy or girl), often held on first Friday evening after birth. Mourner's Kaddish. Traditional prayer affirming life, recited by mourners. Marriage Onen. Designation of mourner prior to funeral; as Aufruf. Calling of the groom-to-be (and often of onen, one is exempted from the performance of bride-to-be) to Torah on Shabbat before wedding religious obligations. day. Sheloshim. First thirty days of mourning period. Badeken. Ceremony for veiling bride. Shivah. "Seven." First seven days of mourning. Erusin. Betrothal. Taharah. Ritual cleansing of deceased by Hevra Get. Religious divorce, required to terminate a Kaddisha prior to funeral. Jewish marriage. Unveiling. Service marking consecration of Ḥatan. Groom. tombstone. Ḥuppah. Wedding canopy under which bride and Yahrzeit. Anniversary of death. groom stand during wedding ceremony. May consist of a tallit (prayer-shawl) and poles. Yizkor. Memorial prayers recited on Shemini Atzeret, Passover, Shavuot, and Yom Kippur. Kallah. Bride.

Ketubah. Marriage contract. GENERAL TERMS Mitzvah. A religious commandment. Judaism has 613 of them. Ashkenazim. Jews who follow traditions of northern and central Europe. Naches. Joy, often from children and grandchildren.

Aveirah. Transgression of God's law. Pushke. Tzedakah container in which coins are placed for charity. Barukh Hashem. "May God be blessed." Expression having effect of "Thank God, I'm fine" in response to Rabbinical Assembly. International professional polite inquiries such as "How are you?" organization of Conservative rabbis.

Bet Din. Court of Jewish law. Responsa. Formal written replies to questions on Jewish law by qualified legal authorities. Bikkur Ḥolim. Visiting the sick, an important religious obligation. Rosh Hodesh. Beginning of new Jewish month.

B'nai Yisrael. "Children of Israel." The Jewish people. Sephardim. Jews who follow traditions which originated in Spain and North Africa. Codes. Books of Jewish law. Shalom Bayit. Family harmony. Eretz Yisrael. The land of Israel. Shulḥan Arukh. Authoritative Code of Jewish Law Galut. Dispersion of Jews throughout the world. Also written by Joseph Caro (sixteenth century). called Diaspora. Simḥah. Joyous occasion often associated with a life- Gemara. Major rabbinic commentary on the cycle event, e.g., a Bar/Bat Mitzvah or a wedding. Mishnah, the major part of the Talmud. Talmud. Compendium of Jewish law, consisting of Ger. A convert. Mishnah and Gemara.

Ḥalakhah. Jewish law. Tanakh. The Bible, consisting of the Torah, Prophets, and Writings. Hatikvah. "The Hope." Israel's national anthem. Torah. (1) The Five Books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Ḥevra. A fellowship of friends. Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy). (2) The scroll Ḥutzpah. Audacity, nerve. kept in the ark from which a portion is read at services each week. Kashrut. The Jewish dietary laws. Tzaddik. A righteous person. Klezmer. Eastern European instrumental music. Tzedakah. Deeds of kindness (charity). Leḥayim. "To Life." Toast offered before drinking wine or liquor. Yarmulke (kippah in Hebrew). Skullcap.

Mazal tov. Expression meaning "good luck" or Yom Tov. Festival. "congratulations."

Mentsch (Yiddish). A decent, admirable person. From, “Becoming Jewish: A Handbook for Mishnah. First postbiblical code of Jewish law, Conversion” by Rabbi Ronald H. Isaacs, ©1993. The elaborated upon by Gemara. Rabbinical Assembly, New York, NY.